Re dogs - this is nesting season for birds and many dogs will chase birds or things they see moving - once the nest is desired they will not return. I have a dog and normally its off the lead and normally will not chase things (unless they move) we have many birds and pheasants etc in our garden and he ignores them. However at this time of year in nature reserves we keep him on the lead even for a 6 mile walk we did on Sunday. I think the nesting season end is June 30th then there is less of an issue with the dog being off the lead. There are many other places where dogs can run around off the lead without impacting nesting birds.
Usually corresponds with closed season for fishing, which, as most fisherman believe is just for fish breading, but also for nesting birds. However i am lucky, one thing she may chase is a squirrel but will respond to stop within 6ft. Anyway, can watch and preempt as dogs ears always lift before a chase would take place. If there is a duck on the bank, i am a river bailiff, she will slower walk round keeping a safe distance. Perhaps i am lucky but have kept dogs since 7 years old and never had one that was a problem.
My relatives do call me the dog whisperer.
I was once asked to demonstrate close control. I stopped walking and both dogs sat at my left side. I walked backwards and then, whilst walking turned anticlockwise. Both dogs did the same, all without a word of command.
Believe me i do.
I must ask though,'officially rule is dog on lead' is this private land? Legally law says 'dog under close control' which is different, therefore unless private land to make it law to be on lead you need to pass a byelaw. something even most councils done understand.
For the nature reserve I help run, yes it is entirely private (one of the local Wildlife Trusts), with no public footpaths or bridleways. The site is free to access by owner's permission, but then people feel they have a *right* to do as they wish. They don't.
Sadly that means if we close a path someone will destroy the barrier. If we attempt to block an unofficial entrance to the wood, so the deer control chap can cull the herd in safety, it'll get unblocked and he'll see people roaming around where they shouldn't. Then they complain about lack of notices... you can't make this crap up basically. Too many people are just beligerant morons!
You are most definitely the exception! A good one mind you. 🙂
Sadly some of the dog owners I meet are just downright hostile.
I had one case in another woodland where I could hear angry barking coming from some way off. I turned to see a couple men entering the woodland ride by the gate some 200 yards away or so. As soon as they got in they let the dogs off which bolted, running like mad things. They saw me and decided I was fair game and came hurtling towards me. A couple of Alsation types if I recall.
Now I'm not frightened of dogs and know if you stand your ground then they'll usually stop and just bark, so that's what I did. Admittedly it was with a bit of trepidation given their speed and general aggressive demeanour, and then with genuine fear as one leapt while at full tilt. I put my arm across my face to block it where upon the dog grabbed hold of it with it's teeth and we both went down, into a very muddy puddle. It was winter and I had lots of clothing on, but it still tore the (admittedly already very torn!) waxed jacket. Once on the ground the second dog didn't engage, but was barking ferociously. I was shouting at the men to call the dogs off, but I'm not sure they heard.
Having finally got free of the one that attacked me, and having got partially to my knees, it came at me again at which point I booted it as hard as I could. One yelp later and the pair backed up a bit. It was only at that stage that the owners decided to engage. They came running and yelling at me to stop attacking their dogs. No apology, nothing. I was the problem apparently. They were still a considerable way away, so I fled into the wood and off the path, hoping the owners wouldn't be able to track me down (which they didn't).
I have to say it was a scary experience, which I reported to the Wildlife Trust and I believe they reported it to the police. However nothing happened. It's just another example of people who shouldn't own large dogs thinking everyone else is at fault bar them. So yes, sadly, my view of the general population of dog owners in woodlands is I'd rather they just didn't exist! Sorry, but quite literally, once bitten, twice shy.
As a more humerous end though, I was walking at the weekend (this time a 3rd woodland, a Forestry Commission one) with an old friend who had a tiny dog - not far off a cat size. We met someone with a seriously ferocious dog that was snarling, growling, and straining to get away from them. It took two of them to hold it in place! Fortunately they stepped well off the path to do so, clearly knowing how badly their dog reacted to others. The little dog completely ignored it (good for him!). However 2 minutes later we go around a corner and bump into a fellow villager. He looks at my friends' tiny dog and says "How the hell did you make that much racket?". lol
I agree with keeping dogs under control though this does not necessarily mean a lead. As I have mentioned before, I have an agreement with the estate game keeper because I walk the hills most days and the persistent disturbance of me and an unruly dog can cause a major headache. We agreed the areas that I shouldn't go with the dog at all and two areas I should walk him on the lead, just in case.
Because of the Scottish law, the right to responsible access, he knows he can't stop me from going there if I wanted to. However, the term is "responsible access". He has a living to earn and I respect that. It seems a tiny accommodation to make to ensure everyone gets along.
A week or so ago, I found a licence plate on a track where there is beginning to be a problem with motor bikes. I photographed the location, checked with the estate that it wasn't their vehicle, and called the Police as it contravenes the Scottish Outdoor Access code. They are dealing with it.
I still find it amusing, well, sad really, that England doesn't have a similar law.
That is awful and the dogs should have been put ot sleep and the owners prosecuted. Unfortunately had similar but normally my dogs attacked. I was lucky to notice someone let a staffy off the lead and actually point it to my dog that was asleep on the bank. It almost got to her when i managed to get out the river and boot it. The owner hadnt seen me till i came from behind the reeds. I made ready to protect my self from him but he just shrugged his shoulders and walked off. He didnt even stop to check his dog.
Another whose dog ran over and attacked mine and said mine was the vicious. Even though she never dropped her frisby through out the whole attack.
unfortunately there are some people who cannot control or understand their dogs and others that are just complete a*** holes.
Like i said earlier, good and bad in all, but not fair to ban the good. Would rather they have you do a course before owning or bring back the licence with checks.
Usually a bad dog has an even worse owner.
Absolutely regarding licenses.
One thing which I'm amazed hasn't happened yet (and I've been suggesting it for years given it's a sector I work in) is to have DNA passports for dogs. Basically the license with a DNA fingerprint. When there's a pesistant problem of dog fouling, test the faeces and prosecute the owner. (A one-off can always happen by accident, but we know there are serial offenders.) If it comes with a sufficient fine then it should pay for itself with the fines paying for the testing process. The expensive bit now would be man power, not the technology.
Again, last dog was trained to wait and would then go at the base of the bin. My current dog lies near it until i come and pick up, real handy when playing in field in the dark.
My pet hate is not cleaning up, i may put a bag in visual location if coming back that way but would never leave like a crimbo deck, was is the logic in that? One constant offender in local park after i told him for third time found the next one on his window screen. its these idiots that spoil for all, just wonder if they ever stand in it and what they think then.
Went out this evening, it was very quiet, no cars parked anywhere.
I decided to go freestyle, carrying nothing I set off. Had a fantastic 2 hours all the way around the common, it's been very quiet all week and today was no exception. It's amazing the difference it makes when you have nothing to carry, so much more liberating.
It was after I retrieved my clothes that I first encountered three dog walkers, I walked across the front of them as I crossed their path and then within two seconds came face to face with four young cyclists, I took a sharp right into the plantation that lead back to my car and received the verbal attack of "you absolute wrong en. " this was repeated several times which I suppose could have been worse. Obviously the alpha male in the group, the two girls were giggling.
Spoilt an other wise fantastic walk, still a bit of a chill in that wind though.
I was out yesterday morning. There was no one about so I ditched all of my gear as well. As you say it is so much better walking naked with absolutely nothing with you. I did meet about 5 people though but they were all ok.
Was very windy out there yesterday but nice in the sun. Got quite a tan though, wind swept.😎
I had a 4.5 naked walk in Sherwood forest today. It was nice in the sunshine but the wind was cold when the sun disappeared. There weren't many people around but I did meet two young ladies on separate occasions in fairly isolated parts of the forest. Both of them were really friendly and not in the least concerned that I was naked. I nearly walked straight into one of them as I turned a corner, I think I was more surprised than she was.
@gildo I wish I could have joined you but the chariot is playing up, have to take it in on Wednesday
It will be a shame when they re open the paths up. Very quiet the afternoon, the area towards Swinecoat Rd is totally deserted when I go that way.
Only person I saw today was the deputy Warden in his truck.
See we have another new bench erected.
@tribalbrit Yes I agree it has been nice to have that area all to ourselves, although it looks a bit of a mess in places where the forestry work has been carried out.